Fine adjustment of microscope objective



April 13, 1948. OTT 2,439,525

FINE ADJUSTMENT OF MICROSCOPE" OBJECTIVE Filed-March 30, 3.944 sSheets-Sheet 1 la? e 2'2 g 72 I E ATTORNEYS April 13, 1948. OTT2,439,525

I FINE ADJUSTMENT OF MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE Find March so, 1944 sSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ja z 77 ATTORNEYS April 13, 1948.

H. N. 5n 2,439,525

FINE ADJUSTMENT OF MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE Filed mm 30, 1944 a sneets-snepaATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1.948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINE ADJUSTMENT F MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVEHarvey N. Ott, Bufialo, N. Y.

Application March 30, 1944, Serial No.: 528,686

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in microscopes.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a microscope in whichthe arm which carries the body tube including the eyepiece and objectiveor objectives is pivotally mounted on the main frame or support of themicroscope, and in which the fine adjustment of the body tube iseffected by swinging the arm about its pivot. A further improvement isto provide a microscope of this type in which a part of the arm beyondthe pivot extends below the stage of the microscope and is acted upon bythe fine adjustment propelling mechanism for producing fine adjustmentof the body tube relatively to the stage. A further object is to providea microscope of this type which is so constructed that the horizontalcomponent of the are about which the objective swings during fineadjustment is compensated for, so that the objective moves up and downin a substantially straight line.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a microscope of thistype in which both fine and coarse adjustment mechanisms are locatedbelow the level of the stage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a rear elevation of a microscopeembodying this invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional plan views thereof, on an enlarged scale,respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of this microscope.

Figs. 6 and. 7 are fragmentary sectional Televations thereof, on lines6-6 and 1-4 respectively of Fig. 5.

I Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a microscope of modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan View thereof, on line 9-9, Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary central sectional elevation thereof, on anenlarged scale on line M-HLFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the microscope of stillanother modified form.

Referring in the first place to the particular embodiment of myinvention in the microscope shown in Figs. 1 to 7, 15 represents thebase of the microscope which may be of any suitable or usual form andwhich has an upright pillar IS on which the main frame [1 of themicroscope is mounted by means of an inclination joint. l8

represents the arm of the microscope on which the body tube I9 issuitably mounted, the body tube comprising the usual eyepiece 20 andobjectives 2|. In the particular construction shown, the body tube isadjustable on the upper end of the arm l8 by means of a coarseadjustment mechanism of any suitable or usual form controlled by meansof a coarse adjustment button or knob 22. 24 represents the stage of themicroscope which is rigidly mounted on the main frame [1, and the usualsub-stage parts, such as the condenser 25 and the mirror 26 may bemounted in the usual manner on the main frame IT.

The main frame I! is of substantially U-shape or channel-shape in crosssection and has an upwardly extending part 21 which extends partly aboutthe arm l8 and forms a convenient handle by means of which themicroscope may be lifted and moved about without' placing any unduestrains on the arm l8.

In accordance withthis invention, I provide fine adjustment means ofimproved and simplified construction, which include a pivotal mountingof the arm IS on the mainframe of the microscope in such a manner thatfor the purpose of fine adjustment, the arm is swung about its pivot tomove the objective toward and from the stage 24. In order that thismovement of the objective may be as nearly vertical as possible, thepivotal connection is arranged so that its aXis will be slightly abovethe level of the upper face of the stage. It will, of course, be obviousthat in order to obtain the least lateral component of motion of theobjective while it is being moved by the fine adjustment propellingmechanism, the pivotal axis is preferably on the level of the upper faceof a microscope slide. Any suitable or desired pivotal connection may beemployed for this purpose, and in the construction illustrated, a pivotbolt 29 is provided which extends through suitable holes formed in thelegs of the shaped main frame and through the arm I8, and aunt may beprovided on this bolt to hold the same securely in place.

The fine adjustment of the arm to swing the same about its pivot may beeffected inany suitable or desired manner, but preferably I provide thearm 18 with a lower part 33 which extends beyond the pivotal connectionand toward the stage within the U-shaped lower part of the main framell. By extending the arm in this direction, the fine adjustmentmechanism can be conveniently located below the level of the stage ofthe microscope where it is readily accessible for actuation by .thehandof the user while it rests openings through which thefineladjus'tmenitishaft V 35 extends and which are closed by the bearingsupports or bosses 36 and 31. The bearing sup: port or boss 31 has ascrew-threaded hole therein with which the screw-threaded portion'of theadjustment shaft 35 cooperates for moving the shaft in the directionofits length when thesame is turned. The other bearing support 36 has acentral aperture which 'forms 'a bearing in which the fine adjustmentshaft 35 may rotate "and also move lengthwis'ea The fine adjustmentshaft is prqvmedat opposite rids knobs or buttons 38, by means of which'thisshaft may be turned, and the button'spreferablyhave cylindrical ortubul'ar extensions 39 onth'eir'inner face which extend about thelugsor'projecticns 36 'and 31in telescopic arrangement therewith. Theseextensions 39 also 'act'as stops t'o li'mit'the movement of the fineadjustment shaft. I

The fine adjustment shaft is provided witha disk-shaped flange orenlargement 46 against which one '4-YI 'Qf-a'fine adjustment-leverbears, the lever being pivoted on'a- 'rod 'or pih 42e'Xtending outwardlyfrom an inclinedmnerfacejoffa transverse wall or member 43 secu ed tothemain framell. This transverse member also forms a support for thesausage parts of the mews cope. Thelever has a laterally e ten'am srmer'pr'o jection- 44 having a tapetingthole 'tnernane a pin' iE'isarrahg'ey l fig into this tapering 'hl dj the other end eiit'ending into asimilar tapefl f hdl' r 'nnezr'n the lower face of of the lowerxteris'ion33tof the arrnof thernici '15s,see'psrtieu a'ri r gs; 5arid-6. The pining "s'f'or'ir'is' apivota ljconnec tion between :thlev'r '4 I 5 the arm, of the i wi'th m 'in Fig. 6, he lv r ll iwillswung about its pivot toiaisethe parses If the amend cause'theam toswing abo tf its pivot 29 ina direction to;r""se "'he b'o'd' tube T9.1Whenthe nnei'aejustme ants-"turnedin theopi osite direction,"the n'ge'40 will friove} to the 'r'ighti'n Fig. 6 and cat'sstiie iqw fimgtr eme33 of the arm and must lowering 'of the 'bbdy' tube is. Any other meansfor esectirigfine 'iadjusjtmentof the arm" 18 "about its pivot "may be'ema 5 L15. eras or slide, resulting from the Swinging of the arm aboutthe pivot pin 29. In most cases, this slight horizontal movement is notobjectionable, but if desired, this slight movement may be compensatedfor or eliminated by providing for a compensating movement of theobjective or stage relatively to the main frame, so that during fine adument the ewi be substan al 1w h tal'movem'ent-offthe objective withreference to the stage.

This may be accomplished by any suitable or desired means, and in theconstruction illus- ,tratedbyway1of ;example, I construct the piv-'ot'al mounting of the arm in such a manner as to permit alimitedhorizontal movement of the arm during the swinging of the same. This maybe accomplished by enlarging one or more of the holes through which thepivot bolt 29 extends; Foreiai nple in the construction illustrated, Ihave shown the hole inthe arm 8 slightly elongated'in a horizontaldirection, s'ee particularly Fig. 5. I have also provided meansfor-producing horizontal movementyoflthe arm f8fwhile the same is swungaboutthepivot kpin*29 'to compensate for the horizontal *conipon'entr-cf movement that would result if'the'arm' were't'o swing about a'fixedpivot. 'In' the *construction shown for this purpose, I provideiin thelower portion-3'3 ofrthe arm at iopposite: sides thereof recesses -0rgrooves 52 which'are inclined at a small angle tothe vertical. I alsoprovide -in-;thes'idesiof the main frame member Il-pins 5.3 'whichfitjinto'these recesses. These pi'n'syin'theconstruction shown, are"provided on the-ends of screws 54: arranged in threadedholes'injrthesides ;of the mainframe lljsee also'Fig. 7. Consequently,'when-the'lower end. of the arm i8. is adjusted upwardly by means :ofthe gfineadjustrnent propelling mechanism, theginclined recesses 52cooperating 'with the pins"5'3 will 'causetlie 'arm." to move 'to aslight extent laterallyfinion'e direction'irrFig, '5,- andwhen the fineadjustmentpropelling mechanism causes thez'extension of'the armto'be'lowered,' the arm 'willvmove"horizontallyin the oppositedirection. By providingthe'grooveS"52 withthei correct "contourhndinclination to the vertical, theiho'rizontal movement-"of thearm will bejust sufiicient to compensate for the horizontal componentofjmotionwhich would result from the swinging .of' the' 'armta'bout afixed pivot, so that with a, high p'ower objective, 1 the slide willappear "to remainfiinrfixed position *during' 'thefine adjustment. 7

The major portion of the arm TIiHrTaIy fit'loo'se- 1y withinthe framemember-"l1; but in order 'to prevent any lateraldisplacement"'ofWther'arm orobjective'-'in focussing,i'thevlower 'end of.the arm is" preferably? slightly increased? to bear closely on theinner surfaces of the do'wn weirdly projecting l'egsof thefU s'hapedmain's'iipport.

.The lo'wenend Ofithe' mam frame'is preferably further reinforced byof'a'spa'cin'g b'l0ck51 rigidly secured between-i thedoiwn'wardlextendin-glegs of th'e Ueshaped mainframe: 'Thisblock also serves thefurther purpose offliiiii'tir lg-the swinging movement :ofsaid arm in"one direction about itsfin'clinationjoint' The"'inclinaftion "joint maybe. of anysuitable or" desired construction, tl'iat shown in Fig; 4comprisingabolt hllfextending through-thongs of thei iiai *fiame l1 and'the-piliar' leo'ftfiebese tapergu ptrtfon't's amennst iiitoa icbiiespodingly taperedfpcrtibh'offthe here m the pillar "T6: n -patios ofthe-belt *vi hi'c'zh 'extends through one of the legs of the main frameis preferably square as shown at 60, to prevent turning of the boltrelatively to the main frame. The bolt may be secured in place in anyusual manner, for example, by means of nuts ,6] at the opposite endsthereof, which nuts also serve to wedge the tapered portion of the boltin the taperedhole in the pillar to the desired extent.

In Figs- 8 to 11, I have shown microscopes in which the courseadjustment mechanism is located relatively low so as to be readilyaccessible by the hand of the user while the same rests on the table orsupport on which the microscope.

stands. In this construction, 65 represents the arm of the microscope,on the upper end of which a body tube (not shown) may be rigidly securedand this arm, instead of beingpivoted on the main frame of themicroscope, as in Figs. 1 to 7, is slidable vertically on a part whichis pivoted on the main frame and which is hereinafter referredto as alower arm part or member. 67 represents a slide bearing 61 of any usualor suitable construction, on the arm 65. The lower arm member or part,as clearly shown in Fig. 9, includes an elongated upright part 68 whichis suitably grooved to receive the bearing 61 of the arm 65, and a part69 which extends toward and below the stage 98 of the microscope. Theparts 68 and 69 are rigidly connected to each other by means of a pairof plates 10, thus forming a rigid lower arm structure having a spacebetween the two side plates 10 thereof through which the arm 65 extends.7

Any suitable means may be provided for eifect ing coarse adjustment ofthe arm 65 with reference to the lower arm member 68, and in theconstruction shown for this purpose, the arm 65 is provided with a rack13 secured thereto, and a pinion 14 secured on a pinion shaft 15andmeshing with the rack. The pinion shaft is journalled on the lowerarm part 66 and extends through enlarged holes of a main frame member 16which is also of substantially U-shaped or channel cross section. Coarseadjustment buttons or knobs 1'! are mounted on the ends of the coarseadjustment 15 for turning this shaft. The pinion 74 may be held in placeon the lower arm part 68 by means of a block 18, see particularly Fig.10, which is removably secured to the part 68, the bearings for theshaft being formed partly in the part 68 and partly in the block 18.

The lower arm member 68 is pivotally connected with the main frame 16for fine adjustment of the arm of the microscope, by means of a pivotbolt 80, which may be mounted to permit slight horizontal movement ofthe bolt. This may be accomplished in a manner similar to that shown inconnection with the pivot bolt or pin 29 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, orthis pivot bolt 30 may extend through horizontally elongated holes inthe two legs of the frame member 16.

The fine adjustment propelling mechanism shown in the drawing issubstantially identical with the one described in connection with Figs.1 to 7, and is, therefore, not again described in detail. This fineadjustment propelling mechanism includes a shaft 82 having its endsrotatably mounted in the main frame 16 and having a flange 83 which actson an arm of a lever 84 pivotally mounted on a block or part 85 securedto and between the two legs of the main frame 16, the bolt actingthrough the medium of a pin 86 on the part 69 of the lower arm member. Aspring. 88 holds the parts of the fine adjustment propelling mechanismin contact with each other,

as does the spring 48 shown in Fig. 5. If it is de side of the lower armpart 69 in which pins enage which may be constructed similar to 1 thoseshown in Fig. 7, the grooves 89 being of such shape, and inclination asto eliminate or materially reduce the horizontal component of move: ment.of the, objective during fine adjustment of the. arm 65 about its pivotbolt or pin 80.

The main frame may be pivoted by means of a bolt 90 which also extendsthrough pillars 9! projecting upwardly from a base 92, thus forminganlinclination joint about which the microscope as a whole may be swung.1 1

In this construction, it will be seen that the coarse adjustment movesthe arm in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surfaceof the stage 10 and the fine adjustment propelling mechanism moves boththe arm 65v andthe arm members-or parts 68, 69 and 10 about the pivot 80for effecting fine adjustment. i In Fig. 11, I haveshown a microscopesimilar in construction to the one shown in Figs. 8 to 10, except thatthe inclination jointis omitted,. in which case, the main frame memberextends downwardly to a slightly. greater extent than the frame member16 shown in Figs. 8 to 1i) and is rigidly secured directly to. the base.96 of the microscope. i t w i The constructions shown and described havethe advantage that the pivotal mounting of the microscope arm on themain frame is easily constructed with the required accuracy, and isstrong and reliable in operation.

Iclaimasmy invention: 7 i 1 i 1. A microscope having a main frame, abody tube carrying arm pivotally mounted on said main frame, means foreffecting adjustment of said arm :by swinging said arm about its pivotalmounting, and means for shifting the first of said arm laterally whilethe same is swinging to produce substantially straight line movement ofthe lower end of said body tube carried by said arm. 1

2. A microscope comprising a main frame having a stage mounted thereon,a body tube including an i objective, an arm carrying said body tubedirectly attached thereto pivotally mounted on said main frame on anaxis lying approximately on the level of the upper surface of saidstage, a fine adjustment propelling mechanism acting on said arm forswinging the same and said body tube about the pivotal connection withsaid main frame, and means for producing relative movement of said stageand said objec ti-ve in a direction substantially parallel with saidstage during swinging of said arm to reduce displacement of saidobjective in a direction other than perpendicular to said stage.

3. A microscope comprising a main frame having a stage mounted thereon,a body tube including an objective, an arm carrying said body tube andhaving a pivotal connection with said main frame which is slidable in adirection substantially parallel with said stage, a fine ad- .justmentpropelling mechanism acting on said arm for swinging the same about saidpivotal connection, and means for moving said pivotal connection duringsaid fine adjustment to reduce displacement of said objective in adirection other than perpendicular to said stage.

4. A microscope comprising a main frame having a stage mounted thereon,a body tube includin'g' an ob jective; an an carrying said body-tube andnavi-ng apivotsi connection with said main frame whicliis s'iidabl'e in--'a' direction substantially paral-Iei said stage; a fine a'diustmentpropelling mechanism ac'tingmy :said arm for swinging the sameaboutsaiidpivotal connection;

and cooperating 'partsen s'aid arm and said frame including a groove anda'qa'in slidanle sai'd groove for: imparting movement-to said arm i-n adirect-ion snbstantiany parallel to said stage when=the -='a1 mis aboutits "pivoted connection; to reduce dmv'la'ce'n-ien t of rsaia ebjeotivein. a iil ii-edtion other" than perpendicular:

to said stage.

5. a A- microscope: having a main:frame o'f-isub stantially invertedu-shazped fcrossusection, :an

arm pivoted "on said frame and a ring aiportion thereof arranged withinisaid-fframe-and another portion extending out ot-saidirame, aibodymbe;mounted on said other portionxof. said-arm; a: fine adjusitmeritpropelling mechani'smvincludi-ng" :a shaft j'ournalled in said framesandshaving a.

threaded part engaging :a. correspondingly threaded part oiz'saidiframe; an" outwardly extending annular flange rigid on saidushaft; .a'

lle'ver' pivoted. on;said frameuan'd having-"oneaarm engaging saidflange, and eta connection 'between .said le'verantlssaid flair-in" foiswinging said farm :about its pivot;

'6. A microscope including, a main irame, a 'body tube, an arm on theupper portion-oL-which said body tube is mounted, a-filower: arm-apartpivoted on said-z. :frame;v an upright sliding *hearing connecting. thelower portioniof said arm and .said vlower arm part, =c'oarseadjustment.meeh-- anism for moving said armmelatively :to-said ilower arm part,and a fineiadiustmentopropellmg mechanism :acting on said-name :and:said lower :anm part'ior 'swinging said arm partwand said :arm=t0=efiect-fine adjustment of said body; tube; ibyuswinging said arm,isaid-rlower-.:arm"par.t and .said :body tube as a un-it about thepivotal con-'- :nection iof the-lower arm 'p'art and the frame.

H --A :micros,c'ope zincluding i a: main irame; of substantiallyinverted U-shape in cross :section,

a body tube carrying arm on which thermody- 'tube'is rigidly secured;a1ower armmanhon which :said aim :is :slidably mounted-.foruooarseadjustment ofisaid arm, said flower;iarn -lpart being pivotaliy mountedon said :irame-iandshaving a substantiallyhorizontally extend-ing:portion :ar-V

V ranged in wsaidqframe, fine adjustment ipnopeh ling means in saidframe and": acting *on said jportionao'f said lowerarmmart-:toewnigssaid-arm ,partfisaidiarm' and saidbodyituloe-iorifineadjust! menttof saidarm-and body tube.-

24395 net l A microscope including a main frame of substantially -U-shaped cross section and including-a lower substantially horizontalportion and an upwardly extending portion, a body tube carrying armextending into said upwardly ex tending portion of said vframe andhaving a part thereof exterior of saidtframel constituting the solesuppoi t'- for said body tube, a lower .arm part-'extending into saidhorizontal part of said frame and having a slidin'g bearingaconnectionwith .said am for coarse adjustmenit of :saidnrm andetpivotally mountedon said frame, and 1a fine adjustment propelling mechanism "in :saidhorizontal portion of said .frame remote from saiidtpivota1 mounting,and facting zon said lower armxpart itorswingvsaid arm zandithe :hodytube about :said' pivotal mounting for effecting, fine adjustmentoi'said body tube. V

'9. microscope including a mainz-f'rameg-having; a :stage mountedthereon; an anm pivotally mounted on said main-frame; :abody tubecarried. solely day said arm "to swing with said arm about saidfpivotalmounting, a-coarsead justment mechanism for moving said bodytube-relatively to :said arm towardand-fromsaidstage, anda fineadjustment-propelling mechanism beneath the :stage acting on said arm to--swin'g; the same about its pivotal connection to :move .said body tubetoward and from said stage, said pivotal connection between said-arm andsaid main framedncluding aboltextendingthrough holes in said mainframeand-said arm, at least one of said holes being of non-circularcrossrsection elongated" in a -direction substantially parallelwithisaidistage.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following weferences are of record in the file'df 'tliis patent:

UNITED STATES LPA'I TENZ I Germany ."Mar. 16, 1932

